7 top-ranked prospects to watch in Southwest Louisiana in 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana's 2024 high school football season is now in its final countdown to its official kickoff Sept. 5, 6 and 7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And the always talent-loaded state will once again feature a long list of future college talent in every region and corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As much time as we spend looking at top prospects specifically by class, we thought we'd take a look at the best by area — mixing together seniors, juniors and sophomores — to help preview on which student-athletes fans might want to keep an eye in their area or when their team hits the road or hosts a less-familiar foe from elsewhere in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue the 10-region tour with southwest Louisiana, an area with a wealth of proud tradition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each list will focus specifically on the 2025, 2026 and 2027 cycles and hold off on further evaluation and consideration of the 2028 group until more of those players have some high school competition and film to their resume.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also note, while the list has to be cut off somewhere — for southwest Louisiana, we broke at seven — between 100 and 200 Louisiana prospects sign with Division-I colleges every year, so these lists just represent the leading tips of The Boot's notable talent iceberg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710079' first='Xavier' last='Ford'] — 5-11, 190 RB — Leesville (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ford is the first of a couple players on this list located somewhat between regions, but plays in a Lake Charles-centric district. The state's most prolific rusher the past two years with more than 5,000 yards and 64 touchdowns figures to again be a focal point in the Wampus Cats' offense and one of the most productive backs in Louisiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='915066' first='Jeremiah' last='Freeman'] —&nbsp;6-4, 280 OL — Lake Charles College Prep (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trailblazers' big right guard blazed a lot of trails for big gains in the running game as a junior with his huge frame and good mobility to pull or get ahead to the second level. Grambling State and Millsaps have been among the college programs to offer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291168' first='John' last='David LaFleur'] — 6-6, 240 TE — Sulphur (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The headliner of the group, the LSU-committed son of former Tigers and Dallas Cowboys tight end David LaFleur possesses a similar combination of size, physicality and receiving skills. The younger LaFleur is a great blocker and makes the most out of his opportunities as a pass-catching weapon, moving well and rarely letting a ball get away. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710085' first='Peyton' last='Renfro'] —&nbsp;6-0, 180 QB —&nbsp;Iota (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Located out in the rural middle-ground between Lafayette and Lake Charles, the Bulldogs' veteran passer is still relatively under-the-radar from a statewide perspective, but is one of Louisiana's talented senior quarterbacks with college potential. Renfro moves well in and out of the pocket and throws a tight spiral with good zip and a pretty, accurate deep ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='912261' first='Kevin' last='Rideau Jr.'] — 6-2, 170 WR — Westlake (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Nicholls State commit is one of the state's top big-play receivers and multisport athletes who will look to build upon a nearly 900-yard junior season as a tall, long target with field-stretching speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934559' first='Javon' last='Vital'] — 5-9, 150 ATH — Hamilton Christian (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another of the state's most versatile athletes and the only non-senior on the list, the Warriors' dynamic young standout has played a handful of positions in all three phases on the football field and garnered notable early recruiting attention. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMN39hAicoY","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMN39hAicoY </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144899' first='Rejohn' last='Zeno'] —&nbsp;5-10, 170 RB — Jennings (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another productive member of Louisiana's loaded 2025 running back class, Zeno's quick feet and breakaway speed have made him a constant home-run and big-game threat and the latest star rusher in a long-standing tradition at the position for the Bulldogs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->